Horse breeding has come a long way through the centuries. Focuses, preferences and options shifted during the time, but in the past period improvements, explorations have accelerated more than ever. Even though the main question always stays the same: How can you get the most optimal foal exactly suiting your preferences?
In this article, we present the more and more popularizing modern ways for breeding a foal, as well as the traditional practices.
Please note that the examples from Europe were chosen based on our own research and we plan to extend the list continuously (suggestions are welcomed).
Embryos and other modern approaches
If you are familiar with the topic of breeding, most likely you have already come across embryo transferring. This method was used first decades ago, however it still has not become as widespread as in vitro fertilization, since it needs more investment, very advanced knowledge and specific circumstances. However, this path leads to the future. By being able to choose both the optimal stallion and the optimal mare for our future foal with flourishing prospects, new doors are opening. It might be that we are not far from consciously choosing the exact features and traits of a foal at its embryo (or even before) stage, moreover even coming around possible diseases or preventing them from the moment of conception. As there are already examples for cloning a horse, it is only a matter of time that this method becomes widespread and available in a bigger range. In the first section we are lining up some of Europe’s centres providing embryo transfers.
Pferdeklinik Mühlen, Germany
https://www.pferdeklinik-muehlen.de/
Main services offered:
- Embryo transfer
- Artificial insemination
- Foaling systems
- Reproductive dysfunction treatment
Keros Insemination and Embryo Transfer Center, Belgium
https://www.keros.be/en/home
Main services offered:
- Embryo Transfer
- Artificial Insemination
- Adoption of Orphaned Foals
- Foal Supervision
- Genetic Material Available From Stallions (The NL, Belgium, Germany)
Animal Embryo Centre, The Netherlands
https://www.animalembryocentre.nl/
Main services offered:
- Embryo Transfer
- Embryo Deliverance
- Artificial Insemination
- Specialised reproductive techniques
- Foal service
Equitechnic, France
http://www.equitechnic.fr/
Main services offered:
- Embryo Transfer
- Equine semen freezing and storing
- Foal adoption
Haras du Feuillard, France
https://www.haras-du-feuillard.com/en/
Main services offered:
- Embryo Transfer
- Artificial Insemination Centre
- Semen freezing
- Frozen semen testing
SERVETEQ, Spain
https://www.serveteq.es/
Main services offered:
- Embryo transfer
- Freezing and storage of embryos
- Treatment of reproductive dysfunctions
- Artificial Insemination
- Foal intensive care and hospitalization
Yeguada Cartuja, Spain
https://yeguadacartuja.com/
Main services offered:
- Artificial Insemination
- Embryo Transfer
- Sale of Horses
Anawet, Poland
https://www.anawet.pl/
Main services offered:
- Embryo Transfer
- Freezing semen
- Artificial insemination
- Neonatology
Instytut Rozrodu i Embriotransferu Koni, Poland
http://www.inseminacjakoni.pl/en/
Main services offered:
- Embryo transfer
- Artificial insemination
- Treatment of infertility
- Reduction of multiple pregnancies
Centrum Rozrodu Koni, Poland
https://konierozrod.pl/
Main services offered:
- Artificial Insemination
- Embryo Transfer
- Infertility treatment
- Prevention of pregnancy
- Reproductive physiology in mares
Genetic material, artificial insemination
Even though the history of natural covering dates back to centuries, as science improves modern and efficient ways of breeding are being discovered and used widely. However, artificial insemination is not an achievement of the past few years, more like of the past few decades. The tendency for the availability of artificial insemination and genetic material collection is rising. Based on our research, it is clearly visible that nowadays frozen and fresh genetic materials are the most popular offered items at stud farms. Getting the best matching stallion to your mare became borderless as these materials are transportable Europe-wide thanks to modern technologies.
Here you can find some of Equiradar’s picks of stud farms offering genetic material ”in transportable format”.
Paul Schockemöhle, Germany
https://schockemoehle.com/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds
Main services:
- Fresh semen (transported)
- Frozen semen (transported)
- Embryo transfer
Gestüt Schafhof, Germany
https://www.gestuet-schafhof.com/
The stud farm offers:
- KWPN, Hanoverian breed stallions.
Main services:
- Frozen semen (transported)
VDL Stud, The Netherlands
https://www.vdlstud.com/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds (e.g. KWPN, BWP, Hanover, Oldenburg, etc)
Main services:
- Frozen semen (transported)
- Fresh semen (transported)
- Mare management
Team Nijhof, The Netherlands
https://www.team-nijhof.nl/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breed jumping and dressage stallions
Main services:
- Frozen semen (transported)
- Fresh semen (transported)
- Auctions
De Brabander Stud De Muze, Belgium
https://www.jorisdebrabander.be/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds of jumping stallions (e.g. BWP, Zangersheide, etc)
Main services:
- Fresh semen (transported)
- Frozen semen (transported)
- Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer Center
Arabian Stud Europe, The Netherlands
https://www.arabianstudeurope.com/
The stud farm offers:
- Purebred Arabian stallions primarily for endurance
Main services:
- Fresh and frozen semen (transported)
Den Hoorn Hengstenhouderij, The Netherlands
https://www.arjanbekkers.nl/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds of stallions (e.g. BWP, KWPN, Zangersheide, etc)
Main services:
- Fresh semen (transported)
- Frozen semen (transported)
Haras de Thouars, France
http://www.harasdethouars.com/
The stud farm offers:
- Racing and endurance Arabians
Main services:
- Fresh and frozen semen (transport)
- Mares management
- Embryo transfer
Haras Bois Margot, France
https://www.boismargot.com/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds of stallions (e.g. KWNP, Selle Francais, etc.)
Main services:
- Fresh semen (transported- FR, EU)
- Frozen semen (transported-FR, EU)
- Chilled semen (transported-FR, EU)
Centro Equino Jama, Spain
https://www.ecujama.es/
The stud farm offers:
- Various breeds (e.g. Lusitano, Spanish Sporthorse, Holsteiner, etc)
Main services:
- Semen freezing
- Artificial insemination with chilled, frozen semen
- Embryo transfer
Traditional way – Natural Covering
Probably the most well-known way for breeding a horse is still through natural covering, as it is the most convenient and affordable way for getting an offspring. During the centuries masters could acquire the precious knowledge of realizing the potential in sires and mares, then being able to transmit it onto foals. In this last section, we list some of the breeders in the European Union, which offer natural covering (too).
- France, Haras du Grand Courgeon
- https://www.legrandcourgeon.com
- Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred horses
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- France, Haras de Thouars
- http://www.harasdethouars.com/
- Racing and endurance Arabians
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Spain, Yeguada Dimoba
- https://www.yeguadadimoba.com/
- Andalusian and Spanish breeds
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Poland, Michałów State Stud
- https://www.stadninamichalow.pl/
- Purebred Arabian Horses
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Poland, Stadnina Koni Moszna
- http://moszna.pl/
- Various breeds of stallions
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Poland, Stadnina Koni Prudnik
- http://www.skprudnik.eu/
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Czech Republic, Hřebčinec Písek
- Czech Warmblood, Norik, Hucul, etc. stallions
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Hungary, Kéktói Stud
- https://kektoimenes.hu/
- Shagya Arab, Furioso-North Star, Kisbéri Halfbred, Hungarian Sport Horse stallions
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
- Hungary, Bábolna National Stud
- https://babolnamenes.hu/
- Arabian Purebred, Shagya Arab, Thoroughbred stallions
- Natural covering (as well as other services)
Have you come across any other significant breeding centers or farms not mentioned? Let us know and we will include them on this list! (let us know at support@equiradar.com)